Today more Glenfarclas


November 3, 2023

WF's Little Duos, today more Glenfarclas

Glenfarclas 10 yo 2013/2023 (61%, OB for LMDW New Vibrations, first fill sherry hogshead, cask #2372, 303 bottles)

Colour: dark gold. Nose: But it's magnificent! Quite different from the classic Glenfarclas sherry, leaning more towards the high-end calvados, with hints of kiwi, hay, even dried seaweed, damp earth, malt extract, and dark beer... It's truly distinct, somewhat tight, but rich on the nose. With water: it swims perfectly, you can dilute it down to 30% ABV, and it remains very expressive, with some rather unusual spices, and always that unexpected salinity, even more of that cut hay, dried flowers, cigarette tobacco, and cherry stem tea... Mouth: a lot of punch, malted barley, black cherry, ripe banana, nuts of course, and a bit of coffee fudge... With water: I can't tell if it's from an exceptional cask or if it represents a large stock from 2013, but in any case, this spicy bread aspect is magnificent. There's also a bit of woodiness and polish, indicating a rather active hogshead, which gives it a more modern character than usual. Finish: long, very spicy, woodier but still consistent, with even a certain freshness. Coffee, malt, and beer on the retro-nasal, as well as even more spiced bread. Comments: indeed, a modern style quite influenced by the cask, but we know that Glenfarclas' distillate can handle anything. The joys of direct heating, perhaps. In any case, an excellent quality-to-age ratio. No, I don't know the price.
SGP:562 – 88 points.

Glenfarclas 27 yo 1995/2022 (48.3%, OB for Wine & Spirits Digest, 200th issue, Taiwan, cask #2295, 278 bottles)

Our friends in this part of Asia have already proven many times that they have excellent tastes in spirits (but who am I to judge that) and consequently, that they had a particular fondness for Glenfarclas when it's heavily influenced by sherry, but not only that. Colour: gold. Nose: we find the softness brought by prolonged aging, with more blended aromas, a few notes of varnish nonetheless but also some esters of the most beautiful effect (have you ever noticed the secret muck pit behind the distillery?), followed by spiced bread, pear cake, overripe apples, notes of sweet wine, cider, nougat, almond cream... It's both deep and delicate, with also menthol touches that elevate it even more. Mouth: a magnificent combination of ripe citrus and mild spices, with a delicate woodiness. There's a certain jam-like quality but not overly so, pine sap, walnut wine, dried apricot, dried figs, almond paste, a bit of marshmallow... We finally find the elegantly powerful side of the 2013, but of course with a better integrated and more elegant woodiness. Finish: wery long, spicier, with hints of nasi goreng, coriander seeds, nougat, and tobacco. More candied ginger, tannin, and walnut in the aftertaste, with just a touch of black pepper and cloves as the signature. Comments: a Glenfarclas that is ultimately quite balanced, with a cask that is present but never overpowering, and a firm and almost muscular distillate that reminds us who is the boss in the end. We gladly bow down to this marvellous Glenfarclas.
SGP:661 – 90 points.

Check the index of all Glenfarclas we've tasted so far